August 2010

[Congress] has refused to take action on three free trade agreements that would provide an immediate boost to U.S. exports — with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. That's not just bad politics…Where the United States isn't competitive, other nations are moving in — and not only China. Canada is on the fast track to implement its own free trade agreement with Colombia. When it goes into effect, Canadian exports of corn, wheat and beef will immediately displace American exports.

President Obama has indicated that he intends to finalize a long-overdue free trade agreement with Colombia. We hope he means it…It is unfortunate that Congress did not ratify the agreement when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was in office...But the election of his successor, President Juan Manuel Santos, offers a chance to demonstrate continued friendship and to begin an era of new economic opportunities. And that can't happen too soon.

Trade pacts, more than anything, are express highways to exports and jobs. Not surprisingly, the U.S.' biggest markets are those like Mexico and Canada that have free-trade accords with the U.S.…Colombia, Panama and South Korea have finished free-trade pacts ready to sign, if the president would just submit them to a vote in Congress.